From Yankee Stadium

I just arrived by way of the B Train at the most majestic cathedral $1.5 billion can buy. I'd seen enough pictures of the new Yankee Stadium that nothing from my quick walkaround really surprised me. But I like the airy, Grand Central-ish concourse, where natural light floods in from the ceilings. This ballpark feels smart, purposeful. Everything from the elevators to the sightlines -- all well-designed, well-thought out. (This is in decided contrast to Citi Field, which is far too busy and sloppy for its own good, kind of like a NASCAR T-shirt.)

Anyway.

Manny Acta is already out on the field. So that answers that. A few of the hitters -- Josh Bard, Nick Johnson, Alberto Gonzalez and Wil Nieves -- are out there, too, taking early BP.

Also, the Nats made a roster move today. We knew about this on Sunday, but now it's official. Kip Wells is off the disabled list and back with the team. Jason Bergmann was returned to Class AAA Syracuse.

Any advice/suggestions about the new stadium will be greatly appreciated. I will be going up to NJ to visit my parents and my Dad and I will be attending Thursday's game. I grew up a Yankee's fan and loved the old stadium and I am looking forward to seeing the new one and seeing the Nats win it will be 2 years to the day that Zimm hit the walkoff against them.

Well Martis had better keep it low or else the balls will be flying out of the new stadium tonite,but it might be a pitcher's duel anyway lets just hope its not a 15-0 beatdown like they put on the Metropolitans this past Sunday.

Chico I've not seen the new stadium in person, but on TV I think the outfield looks like a convuluted mess, too many people crammed there, like they stuck a couple of sections in at the last minute. Also there is nothing distinctive about the home plate area, no pretty brick or stone, just ads, ads and more ads. I'm sure it is impressive in person, but the TV view of the actual playing field looks pretty uninspired to me.

I didn't read all the comments on the previous thread, so I apologize if this is old news... But at looking at the pictures of Bryce Harper at cnnsi.com, I can't believe he is only 16. He looks so much older. It's probably why he plays older.

As I pointed out in a post on my blog (baseballinwashington.blogspot.com), I saw Kip Wells pitch for the Potomac Nationals during a rehab assignment on Sunday. Although he apparently didn't have a good night on Saturday, he looked good on Sunday and seemed to have a lot of confidence. Perhaps now that he has the opportunity to work with McCatty he'll be able to help out our bullpen.

I didn't read all the comments on the previous thread, so I apologize if this is old news... But at looking at the pictures of Bryce Harper at cnnsi.com, I can't believe he is only 16. He looks so much older. It's probably why he plays older.

Chico, how is the fielding practice going at the New Yankee Stadium? I am sure a good manager would have his team going over the basic skills in mid June at a new stadium when they lead MLB in errors. Or is he too nice of a guy to ask his players to save his job for one more week?

I agree with natsfan1a1 from the last Chico post, about the venom spewed on here being indicative of the haters rather than the hatee. And 506, too. I go to the games, still, and listen to the games, still (thank all the radio gods for Charlie and Dave), despite the losing. I've pared back due to the losing, but I'll still listen (till it gets too gross to even do that).

Any advice/suggestions about the new stadium will be greatly appreciated. I will be going up to NJ to visit my parents and my Dad and I will be attending Thursday's game. I grew up a Yankee's fan and loved the old stadium and I am looking forward to seeing the new one and seeing the Nats win it will be 2 years to the day that Zimm hit the walkoff against them.

I went to that game on Father's day with my family - what a great gift and probably the most exciting game I ever saw. As usual, RFK was packed with supporters from the visiting team. Walking off against the Yanks (and taking the Series) was schweeet!

The funny thing is that Dan Patrick obviously doesn't know that rookie Nats' pitchers blew Smoltz away in each of the last two years, Bergman in 2007 and Lannan in 2008 - notice how Smoltz did not say anything in reply? Here's hoping for a hat trick!

Still one of my all-time fave series. We attended each of the games. Didn't care much for the first one, but the next two were definitely sa-weet!

---

I went to that game on Father's day with my family - what a great gift and probably the most exciting game I ever saw. As usual, RFK was packed with supporters from the visiting team. Walking off against the Yanks (and taking the Series) was schweeet!

Charlie and Dave just now said on the radio that they don't know where Rosenthal's story came from. They sound skeptical that Manny is losing his job, and they seemed to dismiss the validity of all the stories that have been swirling around.